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Here to Baltimore in 14 minutes


Joshua McKerrow - The Capital
With a top speed of more than 160 mph, the Miss Geico race boat left a wake that could be seen for miles.

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Race boat sets record, but runs out of fuel on way home

By BRENDAN BROWN Staff Writer
In a record-breaking stunt this morning, the Miss Geico race boat made the commute from Annapolis to Baltimore a 14-minute roller coaster ride.
With a top speed of more than 160 mph, the turbine-powered boat - boasting almost 4,000 horsepower - sped from the Naval Academy to Baltimore Harbor in 14 minutes, 7 seconds, leaving a wake that could be seen for miles.
"You could see him going to Baltimore just by the spray," said Diana Gerhardt, who watched the boat from the Bay Bridge. "When he hit the Bay Bridge, he was gone."

Choppy waves and less-than-ideal conditions just past 7 a.m. kept the Miss Geico from going faster still. Driver Marc Granet said he could count the seconds of airtime as he careened off the waves before a jarring fall back to the water.

"It goes right through your body," he said of the shock from the fall. "We put this boat in the air."

Mr. Granet and throttle man Scott Begovich were strapped into the cramped, metallic cockpit by five-point harnesses, surrounded by gauges and video monitors which allowed them to see. During the trip, they were unable to move, Mr. Granet said.

The boat ran out of its more than 200 gallons of biodiesel fuel at the Bay Bridge on the return journey to Bert Jabin Yacht Yard. From there it heads to Ocean City for an important race this weekend.

With two modified Cobra attack helicopter engines, the Miss Geico did not reach its full potential today, said Ray Scarbrough, the boat's crew chief.

The team blends its own biofuel for the Miss Geico, one of three boats on the Geico team at this weekend's race. The boat is not the fastest on the team and will not run in the race, Mr. Scarbrough said.

The boat was accompanied by a crew of safety personnel in boats and helicopters, none of which could keep up. Several permits were obtained at the last-minute from the U.S. Coast Guard to allow the speedy boat into the water.

Despite today's "great run," Mr. Granet said he expects to come back next year to break their own record. He said he hopes they can do the trip in about 10 minutes next time.

Despite today's "great run," Mr. Granet said he expects to come back next year to break their own record. He said he hopes they can do the trip in about 10 minutes next time.

"If the water's a little calmer, we know we can do better."

Nice job guys!

I couldn't even imagine making that commute everyday....

See ya in OC ....

Thanks Guys. Chesapeke gets ROUGH!!!!

Lots of fun. Big thank you to Haggin for believing in us!!

M